Digital Commons Network^™

Development Of Bio-Based Coating Materials For Environmentally Friendly Controlled-Release Nitrogen Fertilizer Applications, Anne Carolyne Mendonca Cidreira

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Discovery Of Photosynthetic Oxic N2-Fixation In Cyanobacteria Using Wet Lab And Machine Learning Approaches, James A. Young Iii

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Slum Area Detection In Dhaka City, Bangladesh, Using Satellite Remote Sensing And Deep Learning, Soubhoon Sadeq Shinjini

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Dhaka City, a rapidly growing megacity and high-density developing area in Bangladesh, faces numerous urbanization challenges. Among these, informal settlements or slum areas pose serious concerns for authorities and policymakers striving to improve living conditions for slum dwellers. Dhaka City’s slums are characterized by high-density, one- or two-story structures made of low-cost materials, often located adjacent to natural water bodies and lacking basic public infrastructure (Ahmed 2014; Iqbal 2014; Jahan 2012). The need for accurate and up-to-date data on these settlements is crucial for researchers and policymakers, particularly for implementing slum upgradation and resettlement programs. However, traditional field surveys for …

An Integrated Wetland Condition Index And Environmental Metric Framework For The Prairie Pothole Region, Mercedes L. Batalla

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The USDA-NRCS Agricultural Conservation Easement Program (ACEP) assists landowners with protecting, restoring, and enhancing wetlands. Evaluating wetland conservation efforts is crucial for informing future management decisions. However, assessment frameworks vary across regions and among stakeholders. The Prairie Pothole Region is an ecologically unique landscape characterized by its abundance of wetlands that provide important ecosystem services. To evaluate wetlands enrolled in ACEP, I sampled forty-five semi-permanent wetlands in the Prairie Pothole Region from July – August 2023 and 2024. I selected and sampled twenty-six wetlands enrolled in ACEP. Nineteen additional wetlands not enrolled in ACEP were also sampled; these included nine …

Simulating Positive Ion Distribution In The Protodune Single Phase Detector, Vishnu Pfeiffer

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

This work covers the validation and implementation of a model to solve for argon ion (Ar+) distribution in the ProtoDUNE-SP liquid argon time projection chamber (LArTPC). ProtoDUNE-SP undergoes a constant flux of cosmic ray muons due to surface operation. The performance of the ProtoDUNE-SP provided valuable insights into single-phase technology, membrane cryostat technology, and calibration of cryogenic instrumentation. Still, challenges in achieving precise measurements persist due to the space charge effect—the distortion of the electric field within the detector due to the accumulation of positive argon ions generated from constant cosmic muon flux. The overarching goal of this thesis is …

Lunar Payload Logistics: Advancing Autonomous Control For Lunar Surface Transporter Vehicles, Liam Murray

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Large Scale Crop Damage Mapping Using Optical And Sar Satellite Data Fusion And Deep Learning, Santosh Subedi

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Evolution Of Bed Shear Stress In Open Channel Flow Over A Rough-To-Smooth Transition, Monika Kafle

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The study of flow over roughness transition in an open channel is very important in the field of hydraulic engineering. Bed shear stress is the key factor in predicting sediment transport and determining the stability of hydraulic structures while flow depth, flow velocity, surface roughness are some hydraulic parameters that can affect the bed shear stress in an open channel flow. In this thesis, a detailed investigation into the development of bed shear stress in a rough-to-smooth transition is performed. Experiments were conducted on flow over a rough-to-smooth transition in an open channel flume with an M2 to S2 composite …

Exploring The Role Of Clinical And Social Factors In Predicting All-Cause Mortality In End-Stage Kidney Disease Patients: A Machine Learning Framework, Addy Smith

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

No abstract provided.

Molecular Dynamics Simulations Of Key Parameters On Thermal Properties Of Carbon Nanotube Modified Epoxy Composites, Lida Najmi

Electronic Theses and Dissertations

The application of carbon nanotube (CNT)-reinforced epoxy matrix composites (CRECs) has attracted extensive attention in various industrial sectors due to the significant improvement of material properties imparted by CNTs. The thermal behavior of these nanocomposites is governed by complex heat transfer mechanisms operating at different scales, resulting in a complex relationship between the effective thermal response and the microstructural characteristics of the composite. In this study, molecular dynamics (MD) simulations were used to investigate the thermal conductivity of CRECs, focusing on the effects of key parameters such as the length and volume fraction of CNTs, the degree of cross-linking within …

Measurement- And Simulated Annealing (Sa) Optimization-Based Inductor Model Coupled To Chassis, Junyong Park, Reza Vahdani, Donghyun Kim

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

In automotive systems, a metal chassis protects the components against the external environment. However, the metal chassis is conductive, which results in unwanted conducted emission (CE) coupling to electric components. An inductor used for power factor correction (PFC) is one of the affected components. When the inductor is mated with the metal chassis, the impedance of the inductor changes. It is also hard to predict the CE coupling due to the structure-dependent characteristics. That is, the CE coupling is not negligible and hard to clarify. Therefore, this article proposes an efficient modeling method for the inductor which is mated with …

Improved Optimal Tracking Of Uncertain Nonlinear Discrete-Time Systems Using Experience Replay, Maxwell Geiger, Sarangapani Jagannathan

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

This paper addresses the infinite horizon optimal tracking control problem for partially uncertain control-affine nonlinear discrete-time (DT) systems, where the control input dynamics are known. Multi-layer critic and actor neural networks (MNNs) are utilized for online estimation of the infinite horizon value function and optimal control input. The NN weights are tuned online using a direct temporal difference error (TDE)-driven learning approach, which modifies the singular values of the gradient with respect to the NN weights to accelerate their convergence. The critic NN uses a novel experience replay technique to improve sample efficiency without introducing biased TDEs and guarantee the …

Dual Parameter Fss-Based Sensing For Structural Health Monitoring Applications, Swathi Muthyala Ramesh, Doyle T. Motes, Kristen M. Donnell

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

frequency selective surfaces (FSSs) are periodic arrays of conductive elements or apertures that reflect and/or transmit incident electromagnetic energy. Their response depends on parameters, such as element shape, unit cell dimensions, dielectric properties, and the local environment, making them suitable for structural health monitoring (SHM) applications. This article presents a dual-parameter FSS-based sensor design capable of measuring small-scale uni-directional longitudinal strain (0%–0.5%) and temperature (23 ◦C–223 ◦C). The sensor integrates two-unit cells: 1) a patch-based cell on a thin substrate for strain sensing, offering enhanced strain transfer and superior sensitivity (~16–18 MHz/0.1%) and 2) a loop-based cell with a temperature-sensitive …

Analytical Model Of The Ac-Ac Dab Converter In The Egam Framework, Arnold A. Fernandes, Kartikeya Jayadurga Prasad Veeramraju, Jonathan W. Kimball

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

This paper develops an analytical model of the bidirectional AC-AC Dual Active Bridge (DAB) converter. The passive components of the AC-AC DAB are subject to grid, switching, and sideband harmonics. Thus, it is impossible to model via the conventional Generalized Average Method (GAM). It has been numerically shown that Extended GAM (EGAM) can be used to model the AC-AC DAB converter. In this paper, an analytical sixteenth order EGAM-model has been developed that considers only grid harmonics at the filter components and only sideband harmonics for the transformer leakage inductor. A closed-form expression is developed for the 2D convolution product. …

Active Microwave-Thermographic Signal Reconstruction With Adaptive Polynomial Regression, Logan M. Wilcox, Alexander Hook, Emma T. Bohannon, Kristen M. Donnell

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

Active microwave thermography (AMT) is a coupled electromagnetic (EM) and thermographic nondestructive testing and evaluation (NDT&E) technique. AMT utilizes a radiating EM source (e.g., an antenna) that induces dielectric/magnetic heating on a specimen under test (SUT). The inspection surface of the SUT is imaged with an infrared (IR) camera over the inspection time. As the thermal excitation originates from a spatially varying radiated power density, a nonuniform thermal excitation results within (or on the surface of) the SUT that is directly related to this power density. This nonuniform heating causes uncertainty in defect detection and has the potential to lead …

Active And Reactive Power Flow Control Of The Dual Active Bridge Converter, Lauryn Morris, Thomas W. Francois, Jonathan Saelens, Oroghene Oboreh-Snapps, Arnold Fernandes, Praneeth Uddarraju, Sophia A. Strathman, Jonathan W. Kimball

Electrical and Computer Engineering Faculty Research & Creative Works

The Dual Active Bridge (DAB) is a reliable and efficient converter capable of providing bi-directional power transfer and galvanic isolation. An ac-ac DAB can control both active and reactive power flow. The present work introduces a combined feedback/feed-forward current control system, utilizing the calculated and measured converter currents translated into the dq reference frame, to control the output power. The system was simulated in PLECS to demonstrate the control algorithm's ability to track the dq currents and provide the necessary output power.

Design, Fabrication, & Laboratory Testing Of A Strain Gage Instrumentation System For Marine Applications, Salem C. Homrighausen

UNF Graduate Theses and Dissertations

A strain gage-based instrumentation system was designed and fabricated to measure the moment present at the base of a mock, diesel-engine snorkel for a submerged vehicle designed to operate in the surf zone. Afterwards, a lab experiment was designed and executed to determine the accuracy of the instrument and a 2-dimensional, matrix-vector equation was formulated to relate pairs of voltages, Vx and Vy, to moments, Mx and My for the experiment. Three versions of this model were built. The first model was created using traditional statics equations governing strain, stress, moment, force. The second and third models were built directly …

Urban Heat Island Effects On Arthropod Populations And Communities In Jacksonville, Fl, Eleanor G. Cronin

UNF Graduate Theses and Dissertations

The urban heat island (UHI) effect makes urban areas hotter than rural areas. Urban areas, and the extreme heat that comes with them, are becoming more common worldwide. If UHIs lead to changes in arthropod community diversity, then ecosystem structure and services could be disrupted. Previous UHI studies have investigated heat impacts on arthropod ecology, but many focus on one species while studies that consider thermal diversity within a single urban area have been limited. In Jacksonville, Florida, areas that are 12°C hotter than the coolest areas are considered local UHIs. The goal of this research is to investigate how …

A Two-Stage Design For Choosing Among Several Normal Treatments In Comparison With A Control: The Case Of Common, Known Variance, Samarasuriyage Sayura Sankalpa Senaratne

UNF Graduate Theses and Dissertations

A two-stage design is developed for comparing the means of multiple normally distributed treatment groups under a known common variance, with the aim of identifying the treatment with the highest mean while minimizing the expected sample size, a crucial consideration in clinical trials. The proposed methodology integrates elements of both hypothesis testing and selection procedures to achieve greater efficiency and decision-making power. In the initial stage, if no treatment exhibits a mean surpassing a predefined efficacy threshold, the trial is terminated early, conserving resources. If one or more treatments exceed the threshold, the procedure advances to a second stage, where …

The Failed Experiment Of §230 Of The Communications Decency Act: How It Facilitates Exploitation And How It Must Be Reformed, Mary Graw Leary

Scholarly Articles

Two truths coexist: The Internet has brought with it tremendous changes for learning, connection, and business; and the Internet and other digital platforms have led to an unprecedented exploitation of children on a scale never before imagined. This is due in large part to §230 of the Communications Decency Act – the law which tech platforms have perverted to immunize them from liability for their activity which causes extreme harm. This duality has led to a current vigorous debate about whether this 1996 law has any value in the 21st Century.

This article answers that question with a resounding no, …

Thinking Outside The Box With Ai: Adapting 20th Century Labor And Employment Law To 21st Century Algorithms That Select, Monitor, And Control Employees, Roger C. Hartley

Scholarly Articles

A transformative era is unfolding in the rapidly changing world of work. Increasingly, to a hitherto unimaginable degree, employers are able to deploy predictive analytics—artificial intelligence (AI)—that processes data about workers and their behaviors to identify patterns and make algorithmic predictions. There is a widely-held view among labor practitioners, scholars, and non- specialists that our current labor and employment regulatory scheme is insufficient to address many, perhaps most, of the workplace issues that workplace AI systems create. The thesis of this article is that skepticism is largely unfounded as it seriously underestimates the capacity of currently enacted federal labor and …

Finding The Major Questions Doctrine, Chad Squitieri

Scholarly Articles

The major questions doctrine has been invoked primarily in the rulemaking context, where it requires agencies to identify particularly clear statutory authority before promulgating rules of “major” importance. Some scholars have suggested that the doctrine is a tool that should be limited to agency actions that are purportedly “legislative” in nature (e.g., rule makings)—meaning the doctrine would not apply in other contexts, such as agency adjudications and enforcement actions that may not be similarly “legislative.” This Essay responds by arguing that the major questions doctrine is best understood as a limit on executive authority—meaning the doctrine could apply across a …

Bringing The Antiquities Act Into The Modern Age, Chad Squitieri

Scholarly Articles

The Antiquities Act empowers the President both to declare national monuments and to reserve the “smallest area” of land compatible with the preservation of such monuments. Modern Presidents have adopted expansive interpretations of those authorities—purporting, for example, to reserve entire “ecosystems” as national monuments, and to claim that the Act’s reference to “land” includes state-sized swaths of the ocean floor. Until recently, Presidents’ expansive readings of the Act have gone largely unchecked by courts. But in Massachusetts Lobstermen’s Ass’n v. Raimondo, Chief Justice Roberts expressed interest in reconsidering “[t]he scope of the objects that can be designated under the [Antiquities] …

Informing Choice: The Role Of Adoption In Women’S Pregnancy Decision-Making, Elizabeth R. Kirk, Ryan Hanlon

Scholarly Articles

In the wake of the Supreme Court’s opinion in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization, the authors of this Article offer a practical, collaborative response to a seemingly intractable, divisive issue. Kirk and Hanlon draw on their academic expertise in law and social science, respectively, to address the paradox of the general esteem for the institution of adoption alongside the rarity with which adoption is chosen. In this Article, they examine social science data and literature on women’s pregnancy decision-making in order to explain the need for laws and policies that promote informed choice. They introduce never-before-published survey data and …

A More Luminous Beacon, William M.M. Kamin

Scholarly Articles

Over the Supreme Court’s past four Terms, federal post conviction habeas corpus has been placed on the chopping-block. Its fate hangs in the balance of an historical debate over the maxim, oft recited by the Court between 1830–1953, that post conviction habeas reaches only “jurisdictional defects” — as opposed to “mere error” — on the part of the convicting court. Justices Gorsuch and Thomas maintain that “jurisdiction” carried then the same narrow meaning it does now: power ab initio over the offense charged and the defendant’s person. Justices Kagan and Jackson contend that, in this context, “jurisdictional defect” was understood …

Consciousness Of Octopuses—On Their Own Terms, Jennifer Mather

Animal Sentience

Because cephalopods are so different from the vertebrate lineage, their possible consciousness must be assessed on the basis of their heritage and abilities. Cephalopods have evolved in water, a denser medium than air, and their perception is adapted to it. They have inherited the molluscan mantle cavity and hydrostatic muscle type, which has led to a more distributed motor control system despite a centralized brain, and have evolved a completely novel skin display system. Using these abilities, octopuses can form concepts, plan for the future, generate a cognitive map, and self-monitor for apparent pain and manipulate communication. Most cephalopods use …

Précis Of The Edge Of Sentience: Risk And Precaution In Humans, Other Animals, And Ai, Jonathan Birch

Animal Sentience

We often face grave practical decisions that seem to hinge on whether a system is sentient. This family of cases includes invertebrate animals, people who are unresponsive after brain injury, fetuses, neural organoids, and now AI technologies. We must decide what to do despite ongoing disagreement about the nature of sentience. In our state of uncertainty, we should pragmatically transform the question from “Is it sentient?” to “Is it a sentience candidate, an investigation priority, or neither?”. When a system is a sentience candidate, it is negligent to fail to consider precautions. We should instead evaluate precautions for their proportionality …

Parting The Corn Rows: Nikita Khrushchev’S Visit To Iowa, 1959, Jordan Stiles

Dissertations and Theses @ UNI

On September 23, 1959, Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev visited Roswell Garst to inspect US hybrid corn and agricultural methods. Khrushchev’s initial reforms are discussed to show why Khrushchev sought agricultural knowledge abroad. The details of Khrushchev’s and Garst’s life regarding their work in agriculture are explored up to the visit. The visit would leave an indelible mark on the USSR and Iowa. Khrushchev and his successors would use Garst’s model for hybrid corn farming as the template for Soviet farming. Garst would use his limelight to catapult his corn diplomacy into action around the world. Lastly, the legacy of Khrushchev’s …

Virtual Reality-Based Training To Augment Recovery Of Hand Dexterity After Surgery For Degenerative Cervical Myelopathy, Viprav B. Raju, Roxanne Hauer, Mohammad Ghassemi, Anjishnu Banerjee, Derek Kamper, Brian D. Schmit, Aditya Vedantam

Biomedical Engineering Faculty Research and Publications

Degenerative cervical myelopathy (DCM), the leading cause of non-traumatic spinal cord injury, frequently results in impaired hand dexterity. While surgical decompression is the primary treatment, over 40% of patients report residual hand disability after surgery. There are no therapies to restore hand function after surgery for DCM. In this single-arm clinical trial, post-surgical DCM participants (within 12 months after surgery) underwent a 4-week VR training protocol using the Virtual Keyboard system, which promotes practice of finger individuation. Assessments of hand dexterity were performed at baseline (at week 1), post-training (at week 6) and follow-up (at week 10). The primary outcome …

Severe Aggression Among Zoo-Housed Coconut (Trichoglossus Haematodus) And Rainbow (Trichoglossus Moluccanus) Lorikeets: Wellbeing Considerations For Free-Flight Aviaries, Emily Simkins

UNF Graduate Theses and Dissertations

As conservation and education institutions, modern zoos balance the needs of animals with the interests of visitors through several strategies which can increase animal wellbeing and improve visitor experience. Environmental enrichment is frequently employed to increase the suitability of anthropogenic environments for zoo-housed animals, such as through walkthrough habitats and free-flight aviaries. While habitats such as these are important for visitor experience and can be enriching to animals, there are also wellbeing considerations for these spaces. Walkthrough habitats can be a potential source of fear and stress for animals, as shown by increased frequencies of vigilance, undesirable behavior, and aggression. …